John 14:16-17 NKJV
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive…”
There are at least four people in the Holy Scriptures whose last day on earth was mysterious. The first one is Enoch who, according to the Scriptures, “…walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen 5:24 NKJV). The second is Moses who, though strange a thing, was “buried” by God; “…but no one knows his grave to this day” (Deu 34:6 NKJV). The third person is the Prophet Elijah. As for him, he had no burial because on his last day on earth, the Word says, “…suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire…and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kin 2:11 NKJV). The fourth Person is our Lord Jesus Christ. On His last day on earth in human flesh, “…He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Act 1:9 NKJV). Hallelujah!
Apart from Enoch, the rest of the persons had this in common: God took of the Spirit that was on them to rest on others. When Moses needed more elders to support him in judging the daily affairs of Israel, “…the LORD came down in the cloud…and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again” (Num 11:25 NKJV). The Word also says that “…Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him” (Deu 34:9 NIV). The day Elijah was taken to heaven, a double portion of his spirit rested on Elisha his servant (2 Kin 2:9-10 NKJV).
Regarding the Lord Jesus, it was so awesomely special. Firstly, when He was with the disciples after the resurrection, the Word says, “…He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit'” (Joh 20:22 NKJV). Secondly, after the ascension, His promise of asking the Father to give us His “Spirit of truth”, as in our text, has already been fulfilled (Act 2). Most blessedly, unlike Moses and Elijah, where the spirit from them rested on only a few people, the gift of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus is here for whosoever believes in Him (Gal 4:6; Joh 1:12). Hallelujah! Secondly, the Spirit of Christ has also been given to live and work in us forever (Joh 14:16). Therefore, freely and gladly identify with Jesus Christ, the One whose Spirit Has rested on you and is at work in you; dear Beloved of the Lord!
Pst. Emmanuel